DCMP Description Key

What to Describe

Describe what is most essential for the viewer to know in order to follow, understand, and appreciate the intended learning outcomes of the program (such as actions and details that would confuse or mislead the audience if omitted) in the time allowed. Determine the most important elements, prioritize, and deliver the description in the limited time available.

Start generally, creating a context, then move to details to enhance understanding and appreciation. The initial information presented about a scene will create a foundation in the minds of the audience members.

Note: While this guideline appears to contradict the parts-to-wholes learning style described in the introduction, it is helpful to create an organizer that facilitates efficient and speedy acquisition of content instead of relying on (and waiting for) the child's inductive reasoning to establish the context for the activities on screen.

Focus on what is the most significant and least obvious from the dialogue and sound track in order to prioritize the description.

If and when time permits, describe additional visual detail that aids in the comprehension and appreciation of the production.

Include key elements in the description, such as style, setting, focus, period, dress, facial features, objects, and aesthetics.

If describing types of media used in a program, such as photographs or archived footage, be specific.

Describe shape, size, texture, or color, as appropriate to the comprehension of the content.

Consistently identify people/characters by name. Generally, if a name is not given, identify by an "obvious" attribute until a name is provided.

In this example from Elmo's World, note that the recurring Sesame Street characters are identified by name but that non-regular characters (those who presumably do not appear on a consistent basis) are identified by physical attributes, even those who are celebrities.

When relevant to the content, describe individuals by using the most significant physical characteristics.

Identify race or other potentially sensitive characteristics when they are relevant and meaningful to the program.

Describe discernable attributes and expressive gestures, but do not describe what is inferred by them, such as emotional states.

Description must be consistent. Utilizing the same character names and/or vocabulary throughout a production or series of productions is essential.

As with scene changes, indicate passages of time that are essential to the comprehension or appreciation of a program's content. Do not interpret the passage of time specifically, however, unless objective evidence supports it.

When describing certain passages of time, such as flashbacks or dream sequences, for younger audiences, it is sometime impractical to use describing conventions that one might use for adults. In some cases, it is necessary to explicitly tell the audience what is happening rather than describing the action.

Another option would be to describe the visual cues that let the audience know there is a flashback.

Generally, describe what you see and do not use cinematic terms (e.g., flashback or dream sequence); however, this sometimes becomes necessary due to time constraints.

When extended description (also called expanded description) is a technical option, provide description before the content rather than after. Extended description pauses the production automatically at certain points to allow for a more in-depth description of the content. Providing the description before the content corresponds to the practice of pre-teaching and also ensures that students who are visually impaired receive information at or around the same time as their sighted peers do.